VAIL — This season, Vail Mountain and the Vail Ski Patrol will debut a Vail Mountain Junior Ski Patrol Program for 24 select Eagle County students. To be eligible for the program, students must be in grades eight through 10, at a level 7 skiing ability, be available for all program dates and submit a video through an application process.

“We want this program to provide local youth a sense of their responsibility when skiing and riding on Vail Mountain,” said Brice May, Vail Ski Patrol director. “We believe this insider-look into how Ski Patrol operates will allow them the skills and education to become safety ambassadors when on the mountain.

“Plus, for those youth that are potentially interested in joining Ski Patrol when they are older, it will provide them with hands-on experience and knowledge about what that position entails.”

The inaugural program, which will take place on four Sundays — Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 11 and 25 — will pair participants in groups with a ski patroller to learn mountain safety, the duties and responsibilities of ski patrol, orientation and CPR and first aid, plus a patrol tour of outposts, end-of-day sweeps, avalanche awareness, gates and closures awareness, toboggan training and non-medical training.

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Vail will begin accepting applications for the program. Applicants must submit a video essay via email to Kristin Kenney Williams, vice president of mountain community affairs, at kwilliams@vailresorts.com explaining why they are interested in the program, what they love about skiing and footage of them skiing.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 1. Applications will be vetted and 24 participants will be selected to participate in a ski test on Sunday, Jan. 21, to verify their level 7 skiing ability. For more information regarding the program and application process, parents and applicants are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Vail Centre Community Room in The Riverwalk at Edwards, above Slifer Designs, located at 216 Main St. in Edwards.